into their hearts Helaman 6:15-41

Helaman 6:15-41

As children of God we have a

different perspective about our journey here on earth. As children of God we recognize the importance of understanding our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, and our hearts. As a mother to six beautiful and wonderful children I am aware of how important it is to protect what enters the hearts of my children. I have always taken my job as protector seriously. Sometimes it causes others to think of me as a pain, but this is my job. I did not bring these souls to earth for vanity or to allow them happenstance. I brought them here as a God given mission to help each one of them reach their full pot

ential, to help each one of them understand their heritage, their gifts, their perspective and their bodies. This would be one reason why I blog. I want to keep my children's hearts close to God. I want them to hear my testimony. I want them to know that my life has been a testimony of many things.

How do we protect o

ur hearts? There are so many diverse ways in which a heart can be led away from our God. There are many good educational forums that teach us of our bodies, our psyches,( a link to something I was reading today on autism), and our professions. But how many teach us to remember the spirit that dwells within us? Where can we turn when our soul is in need of comfort? To whom did God give the job of teachin

g, of comforting, of loving and of nurturing. Mothers. And to where should mother's find their strength?

Who do we co-create with? God.

Each of my children express themselves with unique strengths. When my MathMom was growing up she had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and reading. To this day, I turn to her for suggestions on books that will broaden my thoughts. Two books she suggested have changed the course of my life: Outliers and The five Love Languages My LacrosseSon always enjoyed his friendships and social gatherings. His desire and ability to serve others and bring people together has been showcased in his leadership within the Utah Lacrosse community both as a coach and now as a member of the Board of Directors. He has a unique gift with understanding what motivates people. As my LanguageLady grew her love of music translated to language and she has been able to use to help so many learn both a better way of life and how to teach others a better way. Her passion for family and communication was recently very much appreciated when she created and inspired our own family blog where we share memories, experiences, and bonding. My CrossCountryChic's love for biology (particularly the ocean) has kept our family enjoying the outdoors and always exploring nature. I have fond memories of her exploring our family rose garden and tiptoeing through the tulips. Her vivacity and curiosity for life is contagious and her ability to comfort and HELP others in need is a gift from God took her to Guatemala. I always appreciate her ability to bring joy and relaxation to our home. Our GolfGirl perspective on life has taught us about life. Her trials from an early age bonded her a deeper understanding of what is important. She has a great gift for art that she has yet to develop. I have seen it in her love of color, of animals, and her desire to be close to the part of life that brings us all together as a race, self-expression. My GuitarGuy has a love for people and musical art that helps our home-life thrive. We are enjoying watching him grow gracefully into his teenage years.

As I read these verses today, I was reminded of how I have worked so tiressly to protect the hearts of my family. As we face each of the struggles that life brings our way, we must each inventory our own talents and shortcomings. As we enjoy blessings we must each remember to give our hearts thanks to the God of our Earth and soul who has seen fit to bestow them on us. When we allow our hearts to center upon other sources of direction, strength, and information, we find that we begin to lose the power of Spirit that can come from no other source than God and his creations.

Words and Phrases

vs 16 the people began to grow exceedingly wicked - I.E. they begin to forget their spiritual roots, their voice of reason, their desires to serve and listen to others. They forgot to comfort, encourage and build one another up.

vs 17 riches... stirred up to anger... hearts on the riches... I go back to my quote

When one discovers the true meaning of contentment, they let go of the need for contention.There is a fine line between contentment and contention.

vs 20 there were robbers among them - when a family, a society discovers there are robbers among them, it is a clear sign that something is wrong. Something has not been taught, something is being taught that leads the hearts away from that which is good and right. In my own family I have seen this. I have (like the Lamanites) used everymeans in my power to teach the truth so that the robbers would be no more.

vs 21 stir up the hearts - when a heart is stirred up.. who can calm it but the truth and peace of righteousness. Hearts that are stirred up lead to robbers, murders, secret societies, plundering, stealing

vs 28 hearts of the people - here we understand that in order to get into the hearts of the people you must first find passage into "their hearts" of one person, one family. When we do not follow our Savior, we learn to follow another, voice, path, piper, ? It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children as the Savior teaches us.

vs 31 he got ahold of the hearts - God does not get ahold of our hearts, he expects us to give him our hearts. He expects us to yield to his call and come to him. Only Satan will take our hearts and lead us to addictive behaviors, to wickedness that traps and snares us, to the point where we no longer respect, teach or understand the commandments of God. Rather we turn our hearts to idols that give nothing, bring nothing, and promise nothing but mayhem.

vs 32 not many years - Why does it take such a short time for families to fall into wickedness? Why are we blinded so easily to what we hold dear to our hearts? Why do we fail to listen to God? There are so many ways families can be lead astray. Children bring home the new "fad" from school, parents watch the new "show", etc...

vs 35 And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw - When the spirit withdraws from our lives, we are left to our own strength, intelligence and devices. When the spirit withdraws we discover we are no better than the common man who lives each day in vanity. (see Ecclesiastes) We are not sent here to earth for vanity. There is a higher purpose. All mothers know this because at that time of birth, when they look into the eyes of their newly delivered spirit, an eternal spark ignites within us, and we know we are here for divine reasons.

vs 37. hunt the band of robbers - in my own life the band of robbers that came to steal my children's hearts came not in a physical band of people, but rather in the form of a video addiction. It led to the changed behaviors of family members. It led to the downward spiral of our family's self esteem. It has been one year since I have banned the use of video games and their insidious influence in our home. The year has seen a great rejoicing as we have hopefully "utterly destroyed" the Gadianton Robbers from within the walls of our home.

What do you allow into your hearts? Will I always have place for God in my heart?

Seeking wisdom Ecclesiastes 1

Ecclesiastes 1

Mark 16:26

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Today I take a sidetrack from the Book of Mormon and read from the books of Solomon. Solomon is credited with three books from the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Psalms. All were very poetic in their verse.

How I read it:

• 1. I read it through one (two) times.
• 2. I went back and thought deeply about certain verses that jumped out at me and I asked questions?
• 3. I tried to imagine that I was the author. Why would I say what I said this way? What was his mood? (Somber) What was his intention?
• 4. I tried to remember something about Solomon to help me. What I couldn’t remember I looked up.
• 5. Finally, I was able to pull from it what was pertinent to me.

Life can be hopeless, if you let it. Wisdom comes to those who seek it, and when we find the knowledge needed to make us wise, it often brings us sadness. Why? Because, true wisdom does not come from knowledge (alone) of this earth which is cyclical, repetitive, and predictable. It is not until you add the element of God’s spirit into your life do you find something that will lift you above the mundane. Something that is able to help you make choices based not on pattern, but on truth that comes from an eternal source.

What is the difference in wisdom and profit? Why was Solomon bemoaning the fact that he could not have any real profit from doing his earthly labor? How you think Solomon saw profit? Did he include wisdom in his equation of profit? Wisdom is knowledge + spirit. Wisdom is knowledge + experience. Without a touch of experience to season our knowledge, knowledge is a valuable as vanity. Without the spirit to season our knowledge it brings us little gain. When you think of it this way, you can find a new understanding of Solomon’s words.

I have known quite a few older people in my life. I watch these older people. Why? Because I want to see if they have found the secret of life, or are they tired, lonely and angry. The ones that are happy, really happy with a smile that burns through to your soul, are the ones that have kept a higher law. They are not shy about telling you so. They have an energy about them that draws you to them. And when you are around them, you feel alive, full of hope and you begin to cultivate a desire to have wisdom. I think that we have a choice in life to choose to be a battery charger or a battery drainer. When we choose God, we become a charger.

I once met an older man at a social gathering. When his son introduced me to him, it was like plugging into a battery charger. He was in his late 80’s, but carried the demeanor of a much younger man. His smile spoke volumes about his faith. I knew from knowing his son that he (my friends father) was a man of great faith, but I didn’t have to be told that. His faith was apparent in his aura, in the way he treated others, in his smile and his consideration for others. He was happy! No he was full of joy! Happy comes from earthly experience, Joy comes from God.

When we get our energy from something “above the sun”, when we find our wisdom from keeping God’s commandments we forego the frustrations of life. We forego the difficulties and the seemingly endless cycles of life that “run into the sea” and “return again”.

You can read this with a touch of pessimism as many have, or you can read the first chapter of Ecclesiastes with a touch of optimism. It does get rather boorish listening to Solomon recount the reasons that life without the spirit does not bring profit, but I believe he is trying to emphasis these points so that he can help us understand where exactly our focus should be if we want to have true profit from our lives.

(Words and Phrases)

Vs 2 Vanity.. all is vanity. Vanity: worthless, pride, narcissistic, egotism. Basically anything that you can't take with you when you die.

Vs 3 What profit our work for this life? When we die do people really remember what we did or didn’t do to make a living? I have done a great deal of genealogy work and discovered that when we die we are most remembered for whom we lived with, where we lived, and the families that we bore. Sadly, we are also often remembered for the “skeletons” we create. The best way to be remembered in this life is to be kind. To be forgiving. To love another human being. When we become too caught up in our work, in ourselves, in our vanities… then we become part of the life cycles that never end, and never change. We must live a higher law.

Vs. 4 One generation passeth away.. another cometh. The families of man are born. They die. And the earth on which we live abides.

Vs. 5 A day.. a cycle in the time we have here on earth. A small circle of time in the larger span of time in our existence here.

Vs. 6 according to its circuits – even the wind has its patterns. Meteorologist know the patterns of wind. They are daily, seasonal, and patterned. Forever

Vs 7 all the rivers. – the cycle of water it comes from the rivers, to the sea, and back again. It is a never-ending cycle of moving water.

Vs 8 full of labor – No matter what man does for his labor, he will never be satisfied. There is not contentment in a world where the cycles of life are never ending.

Vs 9 no new thing - Elements. We are made of elements. The world within which we live is made of elements. There is no new thing. It just all gets transferred from one phase of the cycle to the other.

EXCEPT WHEN we show kindness, show love. This is new. To the soul that receives it, it is new. Spiritual truths, spiritual gifts, spiritual kindness always brings newness. New ideas, renewed hope, understanding. When the spirit has gone out of us, when we loose hope then we are merely elements awaiting our cycle to turn its course.

Vs 11 no remembrance of former things – I believe this is a reference to the veil. We cannot remember our lives before. When we are on this earth, we must be content with the elements that exist. We cannot know what is to come (after this life)

Vs 13. I GAVE MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEarCH OUT BY WISDOM -

Enough said. Give your heart to know wisdom. Wisdom comes from God.

Vs 14vexation of spirit – Solomon is frustrated because he wants more. He was the king over Israel. He does not understand the prophets, the hope the promise. Or if he does he still wants more and God will not give it to him.

Vs. 18 he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow – knowledge alone will not bring us joy or lift up our spirit. Knowledge used for vanity brings sorrow. At the end of the book Solomon will tell us that knowledge used for service of God brings joy

.

As I read this first chapter of Ecclesiastes, I was reminded to consider that a life lived for oneself is vanity. Vanity is worthless and meaningless. There can be little joy in labor that does not serve a higher purpose.

But wisdom can be found within the cycle of life. It comes in keeping God's commandments and learning to understand God's ways.

One of the greatest gems I received today was the realization that the spirit of giving renews us all. We all have a spirit of goodness within us. We all have a spirit of God. We can choose to ignore it and live a life of drudgery, or we can choose to embrace it and help bring a new spirit to those we meet, we work with, to those we love. We can do this by giving our heart to search out wisdom.

These Plates of Brass (1 Nephi 5: 10-22)

1 Nephi 5: 10-22

These plates of brass

I attended a fast and testament meeting that was unusual in that the majority of the testimonies revolved around how the scriptures and in particular the Book of Mormon (these brass plates) had changed their lives. I wrote down several of the comments. As we think about these brass plates, I think we can learn to appreciate all that the Lord had in store for those who follow his spirit (1 Nephi 4) and find learn the dealings of that God (chpt2).

Testimonies witnessed they receive: a daily dose, a testimony of the Bible, true evidence, a greater glimpse, a purpose, a time to reflect, strength, help during turbulent times, gratitude, an anchor, an uplift, faith in the Savior, blessings, the gift of the Holy Ghost, deep insights into our lives, a personal compass, answers to prayers, witness to an unchanging God, miracles, the spiritual way, knowledge, Peace, and communication with God.

(Words and Phrases)

after he gave thanks ..took the records.. did search them. (vs.10) - I give thanks each morning for food, for a safe night, and then as a family we search the scriptures. It's not enough to read the scriptures. I need to search them. I need to look for what I need that day in order to navigate my choices.

I have a theory that if we listen to our body, it will let us know what nutrients we need and we will want to eat certain foods. I think the scriptures are much the same way. If we will read them, the parts that are important to our spiritual nutrition will jump out at us and we can find wholeness. I hope that I can teach my children to not just read the scriptures, but to search them for all that they need to learn.

Herein lies the difference in just feeding a child and teaching a child how to feed themselves. We can take our children to church. We can read to them from God's Holy Word, but if we haven't taught them to search God's word for what they need, have we really taught them to fish?

five books of Moses (vs.11) What are the five books of Moses? I don't know? Something to think about and study later on? What do we know about these books? They contain an account:

1. of the creation (v11)

2. of Adam and Eve (v11)

3. a record of the Jews through to Zedekiah (v12)

4. the prophecies (v13) beginning - Zedekiah?

5. Jeremiah the prophet (v13)

6. a genealogy (v 13)

7. an account of Joseph (son of Jacob) how he was preserved when they were led out of captivity

from the beginning (v12) - this struck me.. could it mean (from the beginning of when the written word began?) Or is it possible that there was another race of men that actually began with the creation? We know from science that man was here long before his written record was. I really don't believe that there is a problem with science and religion. I believe the problem lies in communication of language, and there is much we don't know. It jumped out at me.

he was filled with the spirit (vs. 17) - Lehi read the brass plates and was filled with the spirit. Many people testified yesterday of how they read "the brass plates" and how they were filled with the spirit (see above). Is it possible for me to read the scriptures and be filled with the spirit also?

he began to prophesy (vs. 17).... he told what would become of the plates....Why do we think that we cannot prophesy concerning our own situation? What is revelation if it is not prophesy? When I read, pray and study God's word, I believe he will open our lives unto us and show us the pathways we have chosen. He will help us to see where we are headed good and bad. Here's the catch. Nephi knew what was in the plates as he read them with his father Lehi. Would what he saw come to pass if he had not written about it? We wouldn't know about it. His written word wouldn't have power to sway our thoughts, emotions, and spirits.

It is one thing to prophesy and keep it in your heart. I believe it is much more powerful to prophesy and write it for all the world to see.

He prophesized:

1. Plates should go forth unto all nations.... it’s happening as we speak.

2. to all kindreds, tongues and people of his seed.... (all nationalities genetically connected)

3. never perish...

4. would never be dimmed by time. These words are words of wisdom that guide the soul.

they were desirable... of great worth. (vs. 21) What is of great worth to me? When I think of all the things I own, it is the things that bring me closer to my children that are of great worth and desirable. If there is anything that can do this, I will seek it out.

it was wisdom that we should carry them with us (vs. 22)- I have to wonder how I use wisdom to carry God's word with me each day? I wonder... I can carry God's word with me or be as those in Jerusalem and be carried away? I wonder do I even remember to pick them up some days? What if Lehi had forgotten them? What if he hadn't gone back for them? What if it was all of men? Would all of this have lasted (never to perish)? Would it have dimmed with time?

What of the other great works? How do they dim with time? I listened to a commentary to "To Kill a Mockingbird". This great classic is beginning to waiver in popularity among university professors and students who have begun to say that its message is dated and no longer applies to them. I thought it all a very interesting conversation.

Still... I wonder what determines what we carry with us each day? If we were to backpack, we would be sure to carry with us essential physical food. Spiritually we all need to be reminded and carry with us essential spiritual food so that when life is hard, when we lose our way, when we exhaust ourselves and need encouragement, and when we struggle with decisions, we will have the wisdom within us to help us make choices that will bring comfort, peace and understanding.

I have found that "these plates of brass", although metal and of great weight, lighten my load each day. They lift me up, teach me of an easier way and give me perspective that keeps me forever in the brightness of His love.

He is mightier than all the earth

1 Nephi 4: 1-11

God is mightier than all the earth. Then why not Laban? And why not any problem we have? Is there a problem that we have that He could not help with? I find great Hope in this statement.

This essential belief is critical to our finding success. Why? Because when we realize that God is mightier than all the earth, yeah He is the creator of the earth, and we realize that when we live His commandments, He lives within us and gives us promise, then we begin to understand who we are. This is key to finding our sense of self-actualization. We are able to attain our goals. We only must learn to keep our desires in check with the Lords.

Phrases and Words

"He is mightier than all the earth" (vs1) A great truth! This states a great hope, and a great way to find help, love, and direction when our problems seem to overshadow us. We must believe this simple statement. When we do, we realize there is no person, no element of nature, and no kingdom on this earth that has greater power than God.

Strong like unto Moses (vs. 2) How strong was Moses? And of what strength did he boast? Moses? Moses was not a physically weak man, but he was not a Samson. He was spiritually strong. His strength came in his obedience and his wisdom from God. I would love to strong like unto Moses.

Spoke unto the Waters (vs2) If man can speak unto the waters and they will respond (like unto Moses), will the other elements of the earth also respond? Does the earth respond to faith? Or does God respond to our faith and then bid the earth obey?

wherefore can ye doubt? (Vs. 3) If I witness a miracle will I ever forget it? If I receive God's love can I ever say I never felt it? Nephi just wants to know, how can his brethren be so stubborn? They just had an angel of God speak to them, how can they deny this?

Again I am taken back to what we desire most? Our desires mark our beliefs. Our desires set the compass of our path. Be careful what you desire, you will most likely get it. And when you do... you will forget all that God has given you. Will I doubt? If I am not strong like unto Moses, if I do not believe that "he is mightier than all the earth".

the Lord is able to deliver us (vs4) - This statement is the epitome of pure faith.

even as our forefathers (vs. 3) We are the sum of all of our family. What our forefathers were shapes us. The Lord delivered Nephi’s forefathers. They were the Hebrews whom Moses set free. These stories have been passed down for many generations and were in his mind when he said this. He recognized that they need not be different. God will deliver them even as he delivered his forefathers from the Egyptians. I have stories in my family history where God delivered my family. I have stories of my own.

A Book From Heaven ! Nephi 1:10-20

A Book From Heaven

1 Nephi 1:10-20

As I read my scriptures this morning I wondered what a book from heaven would be like. The world has always valued books for the wisdom and the experience they present to those who could decipher them. Why didn’t I say read? Because reading is much more than pronouncing a word. Words hold priceless interpretations. They are symbols of our language, but they are not our language. Language is who we are, how we are and how we express ourselves. Words are just one way of expression.

What makes a book magical is that the reader can interpret the words according to their own understanding. Like a river that is constantly flowing and yet ever changing, when you go back to a favorite passage the words are the same and yet different. An old adage reads that you can never put your hand in the same river twice. Books are like this. It is not the water that changes, we change. Our perspective carries us along the time line of life and we see things differently. We find new understanding.

Heaven holds its own language and words. I wonder what a book from heaven would say? With all of the millions of books on the earth today, would I take time to read a book from heaven? The printing press was first invented by Gutenburg around 1440. This only magnified our ability to get the written word to the masses. Books nor stories were not new. The first known written story is the Gilgamesh 2700 and tells the story of a great flood. Stories about man’s life abound aplenty, but what would the Gods tell us?

Lehi discovered some of this in his dream. He learned that words from heaven settle bitterly in the belly but leave a taste as sweet as honey upon the lips.

Phrases and Words

(these are my comments on phrases of words that jump out at me)

they came down (vs11) Who came down? The thirteen. The one who shown brightly and the twelve that followed. Why did they come down? They came down because we cannot go up. If you have ever climbed a mountain or accomplished a task of great merit, you understand this. Taking it to the most basic form you could imagine a parent with a crawling child. The child is unable to walk, stand or climb. If a parent wants to speak to the child they must “come down” The day will come when he child will be able to stand, walk and climb but until that time, those who are able, (those who shine) must come down to us that cannot.

gave unto him a book (vs11) he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. (vs12) Again I am drawn to contemplate the thousands and maybe millions of books that have or ever will be written. Do they fill me with the spirit of the Lord? Some do? What must a book say that would fill me with the spirit of the Lord? What language must it be written in? Will it comfort me? instruct me? define me? teach me? offend me? warn me? Who wrote the book? If I am offended what does it say about me? If i am comforted ? Can I understand it? If not what do I do? The book does not change, like the river of water, I must change so that I let its wetness quench my thirst, let its energy liven my soul.

carried away (vs13) How are we carried away captive into Babylon? This book told Lehi about those that he prayed for. It answered his prayers. It told how their actions would lead them away from the peace that God would have them enjoy. It would carry them away? I wondered about how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to be carried away into a video game, a movie, a jealousy, anger, or even after something that seemingly appears to be a good desire? If it does not bring us closer to our God’s love for us, then it will carry us away... I wonder what I can do to draw closer to my God and not allow myself to be carried away?

read and seen (vs14) We see many things that are first written. It is called television, movies, videos. internet. The mind has its own video clip. I marveled that Lehi both read and saw.

Power +goodness + mercy = God (vs 14) I read this as a parent. I saw the infinite love and recognized how God’s love for us is manifested in His power (he will protect us) ,, his goodness (he will give us every good thing) and his mercy (he forgives us our shortcomings) As a parent I want to be like this. Too many parents subjugate their power to their children. When children are given power they are not able to handle it causes great problems. I am grateful to know that God has all power and will use it to bless my life, if I will but love him.

Praising of his God (vs 15) How do I praise my God? When I consider all that I have and all that he has given me, how do I rejoice? Is my whole heart filled and does it move me to action to share this love?

because of the thing which he had seen (vs15) - we see many things every day. We see God’s creations all around us. I marvel at the bird song, the beauty of a flower, and yet this is not what Lehi saw? Or is it? We are wanton to see many things in our life, but will we want to see that “which the Lord” will show us? I am reminded of Aaron in the Bible and how all the Israelites has to do to live was to look upon the Rod of Aaron. Look and live. But many refused to because they had not cast their eyes upon all that the Lord had made and was it too bright for them?

account of mine own life. (vs 17) I have to wonder if we will write an account of our own life? Writing causes us to think about our actions. The prophets have all counseled us to write a journal. Why? Because it makes us “account” for our “own life”. I hope that my writing will help me account for my thoughts, my deeds and my actions.

he testified (vs 19) I wonder how different this story would have been if Lehi had kept it all to himself? Of one thing I am sure, the beauty of God’s words and works were never meant to be harbored selfishly. This in itself seems an oxymoron. The beauty of God’s word were meant to be proclaimed like a bird song atop the trees each and every morning of our lives. Lehi did this, he testified. Why did they become angry?

abominations (vs19)- Whit exeklie iz am abomination? Hew di wa menege to sii whin wi ere wreng? Abominations are merely being wrong. a typo, a misprint, but they are purposefully done with malice. They are selfish for they draw us away from the message that God sends. They mislead. They carry us away and we miss the lessons of God.

ANGER(vs 20) Anger = cast out When we are angry with something we lose patience. First we cast it out. Then we may beat it or stone it. And if our anger remains unchecked we may slay it. Anger is not of God. God brings us mercy when we err. Anger casts us out.

tender mercies (vs 20) I first heard this word from our Stake Presidents wife. She talked about the tender mercies of the Lord in her life. Tender mercies come from God to those who have faith. He uses this faith to help them have enough self esteem, enough self will to find the energy to free themselves from that which binds them and promises to carry them away. Lehi and Nephi were given tender mercies that kept them from being carried away into Babylon. What tender mercies has the Lord given me that keeps me standing strong in my faith and helps me find strength of my own? I with the faith of the Lord can find my own deliverance.

I have been told that there are volumns of books in heaven. Volumes? If this is the case then I want to carefully select all that I read and make sure it is written with a spirit that will not carry me away but will show me God's tender mercies.

I want to understand these tender mercies and see for myself the brillance of all of God's works. If after all God will take the time to "come down" can I not make time to see and hear and taste of His Love.